Portion feed device for packaging

ABSTRACT

A portion feed device ( 2 ) for a packaging ( 1 ) features a chamber ( 4 ) to accommodate a pourable solid product and a dispensing facility ( 2 ) neighboring onto this chamber. When in use, the inner tube ( 10 ) lies essentially horizontal and features inlet openings ( 51 ) on the dispensing side. By rotating the inner tube ( 10 ) around its main axis the inlet openings ( 51, 61 ) on the feed side can, either in sequence one after another or simultaneously, be brought into at least partial alignment or congruent agreement with the inlet opening or openings ( 13, 16 ) on the chamber side and/or the outlet opening or openings ( 14, 24 ). As a result of this rotation, when in the open setting, these inlet openings ( 51; 13, 16 ) form at least partially a passage between the chamber ( 4 ) and the dispensing facility ( 2 ) and, in a closed setting no passage is provided between the chamber ( 4 ) and the dispensing facility ( 2 ).

TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portion feed device for a packaging with achamber to accommodate a pourable solid product and dispensing facilityneighbouring onto this chamber whereby, the chamber facing thedispensing facility features at least one inlet opening, which can berotated with respect to the inlet opening on the chamber side that, inan open setting these inlet openings form at least partially a passagebetween the chamber and the dispensing facility, and in a closed settingdo not form a passage between the chamber and the dispensing facility.

STATE-OF-THE ART

Known from the state-of-the-art is a series of devices which permit thedelivery of pourable solids. For example US 5,692,868 shows a devicewhich can be suspended and features a deformable storage pouch at thelower end of which a device for delivery of material is provided. Onopening the outlet, this device allows faster delivery of the contentswhen the storage pouch is deformed i.e. emptying out the pourable solidmaterial.

Known from WO 2005/007539 is a further such device whereby the openingof the lower outlet is controlled by string.

A portion feed device having the above mentioned features is known fromEP 0 787 979 where this delivery or feeding device is clipped onto thechamber. By rotating a facility which actuates the delivery device,around a vertical axis, the contents of the chamber falls into one ofseveral portion feed chambers depending on the position of the actuatingfacility, out of which chamber the contents can be emptied via an outletopening. If the actuating facility is moved into a particular position,then both the said inlet openings from the chamber and feeding device,and also the said outlet opening, are brought into line with respect tothe vertical axis, such that the contents of the chamber can falldirectly out of the chamber without controlled portion feeding.

Considering the mechanical properties of the device according to EP 787979, it makes sense to employ that device to meet the demandingrequirements needed for dispensing medicaments. The same holds forcontrolled delivery e.g. of spices—such as is indicated in the documentsmentioned in the research report relating to EP 787 979. In the case ofpackaging forms with deformable chambers, in particular when thecontents are volumes of several litres and masses of several kilograms,especially when these are for products intended for delivery to the enduser, e.g. packaging forms for animal feed or cleaning agents etc., thedevices mentioned at the start are impractical and the attached portionfeed devices can be damaged already at the sales points or damage thedeformable chamber of the storage pouch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Starting from the state-of-the-art, the object of the invention is toprovide a device of the kind mentioned at the start which is usable forlarge amounts of products and in particular for forms of packaging thatform a deformable chamber.

This objective is solved by way of the features described in claim 1, inthat an inner tube—arranged essentially horizontal in the usingposition—is provided featuring the inlet openings on the side of thefeeding device, whereby by rotating the inner tube around its main axis,inlet openings on the side of the feeding device can be brought, eitherin sequence one after another or simultaneously, into at least partialalignment or congruent agreement with the inlet opening or openings onthe chamber side and the outlet opening or openings.

A portion feed device for a packaging has a chamber to accommodate apourable solid product and feed device neighbouring onto this chamber.In the using position the inner tube is arranged in an essentiallyhorizontal position which features inlet openings on the feeding deviceside. By rotating the inner tube around its main axis the inlet openingson the side of the feeding device can, either in sequence one afteranother or simultaneously, be brought into at least partial alignment orcongruent agreement with the inlet opening or openings on the chamberside an/or the outlet opening or openings. As a result of this turningmotion these inlet openings, when in an open position, form at leastpartially a passage between the chamber and the dispensing device, andin the closed position no passage is provided between the chamber andthe dispensing device.

Furthermore, portioned amounts can be dispensed or delivered infree-flow in suitable quantities in a simple manner. In one version ofthe invention, it is possible to dispense fixed amounts by simplerotation of the button effecting rotation. By appropriate design of theinner tube continuous feed may be possible. Providing a sleeve for theinner tube also makes it possible to dispense a predetermined amount.Finally, the features allow for the provision of an element providing aguarantee against interference by simply covering the outlet openings inquestion.

Further advantageous exemplified embodiments of the invention aredescribed in the sub-claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in greater detail with the aid of exemplifiedembodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings which show in:

FIG. 1 a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a packaging with aportion feed device according to a first exemplified embodiment of theinvention,

FIG. 2 a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a lower part of apackaging with a portion feed device according to a second exemplifiedembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 a schematic, partially sectioned perspective view of aself-standing pouch with a portion feed device according to a thirdexemplified embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 4 a schematic, partially sectioned perspective view of aself-standing pouch with a portion feed device according to a fourthexemplified embodiment of the invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a packaging 1with a portion feed device 2 according to a first exemplified embodimentof the invention. The numeral 3 indicates a facility for carrying andsuspending the said packaging 1, onto which facility a pouch-typepackaging forming a chamber is attached. The suspension means 3 may alsocontain an (upper) closure for the pouch. The packaging may be rigid,semi-rigid or flexible. It may be in the form of a sack or folding pouchand may be of fibrous material, plastic films or another material. Itmay be transparent or opaque. Fields of application are foodstuffs,cleaning agents and other pourable solid goods. In retail outlets suchpouches are often offered on palettes, therefore the pouch material isexposed to the influence of the surroundings. This applies also to theportion feed device 2.

The packaging 1 is shown in an upright position in which it is suspendedby the suspension means 3. The packaging 1 can also be presented forsale in this form. The packaging 1 then stands on two regions 5 ofchamber 4 which are filled with material and which are separated fromthe cylindrical portion feed device 2. In particular, the portion feeddevice 2 may comprise a central tube 10 with at least one portion feedopening which is arranged in the longitudinal direction and is in FIG. 1turned to the right. The central tube 10 is introduced, with littleplay, into an outer tube 12 which features two facing openings 13 and14. The space between the two facing openings 13 and 14 is occupied bythe inner tube 10 and its interior forms the portion feed chamber 20.

The outer tube 12 in the exemplified embodiment shown forms at the sidea wedge 15 with a flat base which belongs to the above mentioned baseareas 5 of chamber 4. The domed upper side of the wedges 15 is usefullyat least partially adhesively bonded to the wall of the chamber 4. In apreferred exemplified embodiment there are at least struts between thetwo wedges 15, in other words the wedges may be of one and the samepart.

Facing the inlet opening or openings 13 in the wedges 15/the outer tube12 are one or correspondingly several congruent openings 16 which in thefollowing are referred to as chamber-side inlet openings 16.

Numeral 21 indicates an element providing a guarantee againstinterference which in this case is in the form of a film which adheresto the regions 5 filled with material at least at the correspondingbonding areas 22. This may be tab to simplify removal of the element 21providing guarantee against interference. The element 21 providingguarantee against interference may also be attached to the underside ofthe wedges 15 and to the outer tube 12. The existence of this film atthe mentioned place guarantees to the customer that the packaging inquestion has never been opened, in particular when the opening isirreversible; that is e.g. a film that has been raised cannot beattached again. The element 21 providing guarantee against interferencemay also be of other materials than plastic film, e.g. of strut betweenthe inner tube 10 and the surroundings, or a further sleeve enclosingthe packaging. Other versions are known to the expert in the field.

FIG. 1 shows the suspended packaging before use i.e. before removing theelement 21 providing guarantee against interference. Under theassumption that this has been removed, one can see immediately that thecongruent openings 13 and 16 form one or more inlet openings, which inFIG. 1 are blocked off from the inner tube 10. Material in chamber 4 canflow or trickle from the chamber 4 into the dispensing chamber 20 onlywhen this inner tube 10—as seen in FIG. 1 —is turned by 90 degrees inthe anti-clockwise direction such that also the inlet opening 11 liesfacing the other mentioned openings. The dispensing chamber 20 thenfills with material from the chamber 4. Following this, the inner tube10 is rotated 180 degrees such that the previous inlet opening 11 nowrepresents an outlet opening facing a corresponding outlet opening 14 inthe outer tube 12.

The opening 14 in the outer tube 12 may also be provided helix-shapedwith an angle which is smaller than 180 degrees such that the materialcan be fed from the system by rotating the outer tube 12.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a lower partof a packaging 1 with a portion feed device 2 according to a secondexemplified embodiment of the invention. The same numerals indicate thesame or similar features in all figures.

Apart from the difference that here the element 21 providing guaranteeagainst interference has been removed, the outer tube 12 has been bondedto the underside of the pouch 4, there are no shape-forming wedges 15.Unlike FIG. 1 the inner tube 10 has at least two facing openings 11 and31 which, depending on the arrangement in question, provide passageways11 and 31 facing the chamber-side inlet openings 13 and the outletopening 14 thus allowing the pourable solid material to be removed fromthe portion feed device 2 via chamber 4 through a space formed by thedispensing chamber 20.

Instead of the advantageous enclosure of the portion feed device by thepouch 4 to protect it against interference, such as is shown in FIG. 1and FIG. 2, the portion feed device 2 may in principle also be situatedoutside the chamber.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic, partially sectioned perspective view of apackaging 1 as free-standing pouch with a portion feed device 2according to a third exemplified embodiment of the invention.

Here the chamber 4 is wedge-shaped, whereby the portion feed device 2forms the end of the blunted wedge. Chamber 4 is made up of tworectangular films 41 which are closed at both sides via films 42 runningupwards. The base is formed by a film 43 which is not seen here as it isconcealed from view and which can in particular be arranged on asuspension means 3. In storage, as shown in FIG. 3, the pouch stands onthis base film 43.

The portion feed device 2 comprises an outer tube 12 which extends overthe whole breadth of the chamber 4 and which can be covered and held atboth sides of the film 41. The packaging 1 according to FIG. 3 is shownwith its elements transparent. The chamber-side inlet 16 and the outertube opening 13 are shown schematically as one opening, whereby in thiscase two such openings in the form of longitudinal holes are foreseen inthe longitudinal direction of the outer tube 12.

Foreseen on the outer tube 12 at one end is a knob 23 for turning whichseals tightly and which, however, is rotated against the outer tube 12,as it is attached to the inner tube 10. At the opposite end of the outertube 12, at the side, in the wall closing off the tube 12, is the outletopening 24, which for example forms a circular cut-out or sector, inparticular forming an angle of 45°. Any element providing a guaranteeagainst interference would, advantageously, be arranged over this end ofthe tube 12.

As explained, in the outer tube 12 is an inner tube 10, which terminatesat one side of the knob 23. Provided at the opposite end in the innertube 10 is an outlet side opening 61, which lies congruent to the outletside opening 24. The numeral 51 indicates both inlet openings which canbe rotated to be congruent with the openings 13/16. In a simpler versionthe outlet opening 61 with the closing cylindrical area may not becovered by a wall of the outer tube 12 with an outlet opening 24. Inthat case this opening 61 may be covered only by an element providing aguarantee against interference.

This immediately explains the function of this exemplified embodiment.On turning and usefully hanging up the packaging 1, and on actuating theknob 23 for rotation, first the openings 51 are brought into line withthe openings 13/16, with the result that the space 20 in the inner tube10 is filled with the pourable solid product from chamber 4. Providedthe portion feed device is slightly inclined, on turning the inner tube10 into the position shown in FIG. 4, the pourable solid product can bereleased through the outlet openings 24/61.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a packaging 1with a portion feed device 2 according to a fourth exemplifiedembodiment of the invention in use and suspended by a suspension means53 which is also shown in broken lines attached to the base before use.

The portion feed device 2, as in the previous exemplified embodiments,features inlet openings 13/16 and outlet openings 14. Again, in theouter tube 12, is the inner tube 10 which features openings 51. Thesemay simply be arranged one behind the other as in FIG. 3, or they mayalso be arranged facing each other, as shown in FIG. 2. In any case allfeatures, related to a figure and an exemplified embodiment, are to beunderstood such that they can also be related to other features in theother exemplified embodiments i.e. for example in connection with wedges15, integration within the outer limits of the pouch and existence of anelement providing a guarantee against interference.

In addition to the rotation (arrow 33) of the inner tube 10, it ispossible to provide a sleeve 30 which is connected to this and whichallows an axial displacement 32. The sleeve 30 may, as shown, projectinto the hollow inner tube 10 or may enclose it. This way the axialdisplacement 32 may be achieved directly or by way of rotating in athread. It is essential that the front end of the sleeve 30 is employedas a blocking plunger 34 which, after axial displacement, is able toclose off at least in part the openings 13/16 independent of theposition of rotation of the inner tube 10, and/or delimits the volume ofthe dispensing chamber 20, this in order to reduce the outflow andthroughput of the pourable solid material.

It can be seen especially in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the invention alsoembraces exemplified embodiments in which the portion feed device can besubsequently attached to the packaging. In other words, the portion feeddevice may be a separate element which e.g. has the roll-shaped formshown in FIG. 3. An inlet opening 13, for example a single such opening13, is then e.g. no longer an elongated hole, but is made up of e.g.radial, outwards facing rows of teeth to create an inlet opening 16 onthe chamber side. It is also possible for the base of a pouch-typepackaging to be cut open and to be sealed tightly around a correspondingclamping facility of the portion feed device. In that case there is nochamber-side inlet opening 16 as such; instead, when arranged for using,the outer side of the portion feed device forms the base of the pouch,whereby the pourable solid material can fall directly into the inletopening 13.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Packaging-   2 Portion feed device-   3 Suspension means-   4 Chamber-   5 Region filled with material-   10 Central tube-   11 Portion feed opening-   12 Outer tube-   13 Inlet opening-   14 Outlet opening-   15 Wedge-   16 Chamber-side inlet opening-   20 Feed chamber-   21 Element providing a guarantee against interference-   22 Bonding region-   23 Knob for rotating-   24 Outlet side opening-   30 Sleeve-   31 Throughput opening-   32 Axial displacement-   33 Arrow indicating rotation-   34 Blocking plunger-   41 Rectangular area-   42 Side face-   43 Base area-   51 Inlet opening-   53 Suspension means-   61 Side outlet opening

1. A portion feed device (2) for a packaging (1) with a chamber (4) toaccommodate a pourable solid product and a dispensing facility (2)neighboring onto this chamber whereby, the chamber (4) facing thedispensing facility (2) features at least one inlet opening (13, 16) onthe chamber side, and whereby the portion feed device (2) features atleast one inlet opening (11, 31, 51) which can be rotated with respectto the inlet opening (13, 16) on the chamber side that, in an opensetting these inlet openings (11, 31, 51; 13, 16) form at leastpartially a passage between the chamber (4) and the portion feed device(2) and a closed position do not form a passage between the chamber (4)and the portion feed device, an inner tube (10), arranged essentiallyhorizontal in the using positions, is provided featuring the inletopenings (11, 31, 51, 61) on the side of the feeding device, and that byrotating the inner tube (10) around its main axis, the inlet openings(11, 31, 51, 61) on the side of the feeding device can, either insequence one after another or simultaneously, be brought into at leastpartial alignment or congruent agreement with the inlet opening oropenings (13, 16) on the chamber side and/or the outlet opening oropenings (14, 24).
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein thechamber walls (4) are of flexible material which, usefully, forms afree-standing areas (5) on both sides of the inner tube.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein within the regions delimited by thefree-standing areas (5) the portion feed device (2) is integrated in thepackaging, in particular that the region between the free-standing areas(5) is covered over by an element (21) providing a guarantee againstinterference or interference.
 4. The device according to claim 3,wherein the inlet openings (11, 31, 51; 13, 16) and outlet opening (14)are in the form of at least one hole elongated in the longitudinaldirection of the inner tube (10).
 5. The device according to claim 4,wherein at least one outlet opening (24, 61) is provided on acylindrical area of the inner tube (10).
 6. The device according toclaim 5, wherein a knob which turns (23) is provided on a cylinder endface of the inner tube (10) as actuating means for the inner tube (10).7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the inner tube (10) isprovided with a sleeve (30) which can be displaced inside or outside inthe longitudinal direction of the inner tube (10), by means of which atleast parts of the inlet openings (11, 31, 51; 13, 16) can be covered,in particular however, the volume can be limited.
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the inner tube (10) is surrounded andmoved by a rigid outer tube (12) which is attached on the outside to atapering end of a V-shaped pouch or is enclosed securely by acorresponding bag.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein it isprovided with an attachment means, by means of which the device can bereleasably attached to a packaging.
 10. A packaging with a portion feeddevice according to claim 8, wherein the chamber (4) is flexible, theportion feed device is or may be provided at the lower end of thepackaging when in use, and that at the opposite end of the packaging asuspension means (3, 53) is provided.
 11. The device according to claim1, wherein the inlet openings (11, 31, 51; 13, 16) and outlet opening(14) are in the form of at least one hole elongated in the longitudinaldirection of the inner tube (10).
 12. The device according to claim 1,wherein at least one outlet opening (24, 61) is provided on acylindrical area of the inner tube (10).
 13. The device according toclaim 1, wherein a knob which turns (23) is provided on a cylinder endface of the inner tube (10) as actuating means for the inner tube (10).14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube (10) isprovided with a sleeve (30) which can be displaced inside or outside inthe longitudinal direction of the inner tube (10), by means of which atleast parts of the inlet openings (11, 31, 51; 13, 16) can be covered,in particular however, the volume can be limited.
 15. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the inner tube (10) is surrounded andmoved by a rigid outer tube (12) which is attached on the outside to atapering end of a V-shaped pouch or is enclosed securely by acorresponding bag.
 16. The device according to claim 1, wherein it isprovided with an attachment means, by means of which the device can bereleasably attached to a packaging.
 17. A packaging with a portion feeddevice according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (4) is flexible, theportion feed device is or may be provided at the lower end of thepackaging when in use, and at the opposite end of the packaging asuspension means (3, 53) is provided.